I had first met Jay some months ago and had been hearing so much from him about his family.  So it was such a pleasure to finally meet his wife, Meghan and their little girl, Anna, for a portrait photography session at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia.  Golden curls flying and best friend Dumbo as her trusty sidekick, almost-3-year-old Anna was one little ball of energy.  After the portrait photography session, we went back to the car to get golden dog Grace – Anna’s “sister” – for a final family portrait.  I had so much fun photographing all of you…THANK YOU!!!

Annapolis Portrait Photographer Review: "Irene is the most talented, patient and fun photographer we've ever worked with. We knew it was going to be a challenge taking our family pictures, since our 2.5yr old doesn't like to sit still and sprints all over the place. Irene was ready for the challenge, and captured our daughter's bubbly personality and was able to take beautiful family pictures. The fact that she comes to your house to show you your photos is such a nice touch, too.... Overall, it was the most fun and entertaining photo session that we've ever had. Irene is a dream to work with!! " - Meghan & Jay, Montgomery Village, Maryland

New in 2012! It’s a brand new year, and our New Year’s resolution is to offer portrait, wedding, and event photography deals specifically for our Facebook fans.  Click on the image below to register and view our very first steal of a deal for January 2012!

The week after Thanksgiving, Terry, Larry, and I headed to Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland for a couple’s portrait photography session.  Because I see Terry and one of her daughters every week at a networking event, the portrait photography session was a big secret up until Christmas.  Terry and Larry had not had professional photography of themselves since their wedding, so this was a big deal for them, and the portraits were to be Christmas gifts for each of their five children.  Even though it was the end of November, we still managed to get some flowery bursts of color in their portraits, as well as a cute green and white wagon, courtesy of the Garden of Lights.  At their photo reveal, Terry and Larry spent a lot of time looking at all of my product line samples and thinking about which photographic display option each of their children would like best.  In the end, they selected a metal print for their son, framed portraits for two daughters (one black and one red/black wood), one photograph on bamboo, and a standout for their oldest daughter…and for themselves, a large wall standout and portrait framed in ornate copper wood, and some miscellaneous prints.  When I delivered their order, I loved how Larry touched the wood frames and said to Terry, “I’m so impressed with the quality.  These aren’t cheap frames from Michael’s.”  And Terry nudged me and replied, “Of course not!”  Terry and Larry, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

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The day after our big October snowstorm, I met up with Tonya & Shay at the beautiful Meridian Hill Park in Washington DC for a couple’s portrait photography session.  Despite the winter chill, and despite Shay’s jetlag from returning from an international trip just the night before, these two lovebirds were bright and cheery.  What a beautiful couple, and what fun time I had photographing the two dancing on the steps, swinging each other around, and overall enjoying what was a beautiful winter morning.

Washington DC LGBT Wedding Photography by Irene Abdou

It seems like it was just yesterday that I met Carla & Pete in Washington, DC for their food-themed engagement photography session.  Carla & Pete love cooking together, and food had a large part to play at their non-traditional wedding (which was just yesterday! sneak peek coming soon!).  So to celebrate their engagement, we perused the many food lovers’ sites that Washington DC has to offer, including a farmer’s market in Columbia Heights, Pete’s beloved Eastern Market, the beautiful rooftop of Carla’s condo, and finally, back to their home for a quick cookout in their kitchen.

A little more than a month ago, I got together with the R’s for a fall family portrait photography session at the gorgeous Meadowlark Botanical Garden in Vienna, Virginia, and in the process had the great honor of also celebrating little Devin’s very first Halloween.   Meadowlark did a great job with Halloween decor, and we had a whole lot of fun.  The photographs of Devin with that Halloween skeleton…and the look on his face…are absolutely priceless!  I bet he will enjoy looking back at these portraits when he has his own one-year old some day in the future!

High School Portraits and Family Portrait Photography: Irene Abdou Photography is phenomenal! This is the 2nd time we hired Irene as our photographer!! She did our wedding photography last year and now just did our family portraits. Have you ever tried to get a high school teenager to cooperate for a portrait photography session when all he wants to do is hang out with his friends? No problem for Irene. She engaged our teenager in conversation about his hobbies which made him comfortable enough that she got some amazing photographs of not just him but all of us. She's got a great eye for lighting, she's creative and did I mention fun to work with? All of the photographs were so amazing - we ordered three large wall portraits, including one portrait on canvas - that are now happily installed above our living room sofa. I wish it was Turkey day already so that our family could see it!

Almost 1 1/2 years ago, I watched Jason & Issy say “I Do” in their summer 2010 wedding, and last month, I had the great pleasure of photographing this family a second time.  Since meeting Issy last year, she’s become one of my closest friends, and although I see her every month now, I haven’t spent this much time with Jason and the kids – Josh and Chris – since the wedding last year.  So one fine autumn day, we drove up to Dickerson, Maryland and enjoyed the climb up Sugarloaf Mountain.  Here are some of my favorite photographs from this family portrait photography session.

And, we’re entering the holiday season, and I want to wish all of you a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING, filled with tasty turkey stuffing, tart cranberries, and yummy pumpkins sweets!  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year, and we are looking forward to spending it with my aunt, uncle, cousins, niece, nephew, and their families.  May your time with your family be a treasure, and may your Thanksgiving be as wonderful as can be!

As this holiday season quickly approaches, and you’re searching for the perfect gift for your loved ones, give the gift of a family portrait session.  Just imagine…if you’re a grandparent, wouldn’t your children love portraits of THEIR children?  If you’re a parent, wouldn’t your daughter who’s a senior in high school this year love a glamour session all for herself?  And you…what about YOU?  Wouldn’t you love that beautiful, timeless portrait masterpiece of YOUR family?  And that what makes a portrait session the perfect gift.  It’s the gift that both you and YOUR family can enjoy, and enjoy together.

Call 202-596-8147 today for your portrait session gift certificate.